Lock attachment for electric lamp sockets



-Apl 5, 1927.

l 1,623,740 c. F. MQCANNl r-:T AL

LOCK ATTACHMENT FR ELECTRIC LAMP SOGKETS `Filed Aug. 17. 1925 ing 6 and make contact with the sides and top of the casing. The object of the insulating members is to insulate the lock mechanism contained within t-he casing from the socket shell, which tends to prevent a short circuitbetween the locking device and the socket parts.

An annular member' 9, which we have termed a locking ring, is formed with a spade-shaped member 10 attached to the ring. The member 10 is adapted to be inserted into a socket between the screw receptacle 12 and an insulating material 11 which insulates the receptacle 12 from the socket shell. The receptacle is threaded and adapted to receive the lamp base. The member 10 is concave and flange shaped, ity is split longitudinally along lines 10 and is thus formed with three flanges. This arrangement of flanges is provided to securely fasten the ring 9 within the socket and prevent it from being removed therefrom, unless considerable pressure ixerted upon the ring to pull it from frictional contact with the socket casing and the insulated lining 11 ot the socket.

When the lamp is screwed into the socket, the upper part rests close to the locking attachment, preventing an unauthorized person from pulling the attachment out ot the socket. The trict-ional engagement ot' the split spade shaped member with the socket libre and screw shell prevents the device and therefore the lamp from turning if attempt is made to unscrew the lamp.

The contact between the locking ring andr the socket is such that it may be removed by an authorized person for cleaning and inspection purposes without injuring the socket or locking device.

Mounted upon the locking ring 9 are locking means 13 adapted to engage the lamp base. and prevent it from becoming unscrewed` An additional annular member 1 4 is provided to engage with the locking ring to release Vthe locking means when it is desired to remove the lamp from a socket- The unlocking ring 14 is provided with projections 15 which engage with the locking means and cause them to release their grip from the lamp base so that the lamp may be released. An insulating band 16 is provided to insulate the unlocking ring and the locking device from a casing 117 which fits down over the locking arrangement and into the ring 6, forming with it a casing for the locking device.

Referring to Figure 3, we have shown a sectional view of our locking device attached to a socket. In this arrangement the elements of the locking device are shown in their respect-ive places when the lock is in the operative position. The pawls 13 are shown in contact with the base 19 of an incandescent lamp.

Referring to Figure 4, we have shown a horizontal view, prong side upward of our locking device attached to a socket. The locking means for engaging the lamp base is shown mounted upon the ring 9. The locking meanscomprise suitable pavvls 13 which are spring actuated and are adapted to be thus pressed against the lamp base.`

a suitable holder or mounting 22 also formed integral with the ring.

Referring to Figure 6, we have shown a perspective'view of the pawl or dog. It will )e noted that the dog or pawl is bent at an angle and has its contacting points cut and so formed that it will engage with the lamp base and prevent it from being unscrewed from the socket.

The operation of our lamp lock is as follows: An incandescent lamp is inserted through the locking device and the base of the lamp is screwed into a socket. During this operation, the pawls 13 are simply pushed back against the action of the springs and permit the lamp to be screwed into the socket. After the lamp is firmly seated and contact has been made to form suitable electrical connection with the socket, the pawls are released, and it is then impossible to withdraw the lamp from the socket, due to the action of the pawls 13 against the base ot' the lamp.

In order to release the lock mechanism so as to withdraw the lamp for purposes of renewal or inspection, all that is necessary is to turn the unlocking ring 14 so that the projections 15 come in contact with the pawls and push them back from the lamp base. It will be seen that at this point the lamp then is free to move in the socket and may be unscrewed without interfering with the pawls.

In the present arrangement, the casing 6, the unlocking ring 14 and the casing 17 are crimped together so that they all turn at the same time, and the annular member 9 is held stationary by reason of the frictional engagement ot the concave member 1() with the socket screw shell and the insulating lining. In providing a device of this kind, it is unnecessary to have a key or other means to be inserted in order to release the pawls so that the lamp may be unscrewed from a socket.

It will be noted in referring to Fig. 4, that lli:

the three paWls for gripping the lamp bas-e. are spaced unequally not 120 degrees apart) and the unlocking lugs 15 are spaced to correspond to the paivl spacing so that in turningl the unlocking ring, only one special point is found which unlocks all the pavfls at one time.

Our locking device is substantially a combination lock, and .is easily applied to any existing standard socket and prevents the unauthorized removal of an incandescent lamp from the socket. lt is not necessary to change the socket structure in any way in order to attach this locking device, and lamps may be removed from socket by an authorized person Without breaking the lamps or injuring the socket.

'Vhile we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we Wish it to be understood that ive do not confine ourselves to the precise details of construct-ion herein set forth, by Way of illustration. as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

Ve claim:

l. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollow casing adapted to lit over a lamp base, means for securing the device to a lamp socket concealed Wholly Within the socket, an annular Cil member mounted in the casing, lockingv means for engaging the lamp base mounted upon the annular member, and another annular member Within the casing for actuating the locking means.

2. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising` an annular hollow casing adapted to tit over a lamp base, an annular member mounted in the casing, a plurality ot flange members attached to the annular member and adapted to engage with a lamp socket, locking means for engaging the lamp base mounted upon the annular member, and another annularl member enclosed Within the casing and provided with means for actuating the locking means.

3. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollow casing adapted to fit over a lamp base, an annular member mounted in the casing, a concaved flange member for securing the device to a lamp socket, a series of pawls for engaging the lamp base mounted upon the annular member, and another annular member enclosed Wholly Within the casing provided with means for actuating the paivls.

A. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollow casing adapted to fit over a lamp base, an annular member mounted in the casing, concaved flangemembers for securing the device to a lamp socket, a series of spring actuated pavvls mounted upon the annular member in spaced relation and adapted to engage the lamp base, and another annular member mounted and enclosed Within the casing tor actuating the paWls.

5. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollow casing adapted to fit over a lamp base, means for securing the device to a lamp socket, locking means Within the casing for engaging the lamp base, and an annular member enclosed Wholly within the casing and provided With projections adapted to depress and release the locking means.

(i. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollow casing adapted to lit over a lamp base, an annular member mounted in the casing, a plurality of flange members attached to the annular member and adapted to engage with a lamp socket, a series of pavvls for engaging the lamp base mounted upon the annular member, and another concentric annular member enclosed Within the casing and provided With means to actuate the paWls to engage and disengage the lamp base.

7. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollouT casing adapted to fit over a lamp base, an annular member mounted in the easing, a plurality of flange members attached to the annular member and adapted toV engage with a lamp socket, a series of spring actuated pavvls mounted upon the annular member in spaced relation, said parvis being adapted to engage with the lamp base, and another concentric annular member provided With shoulder projections to actuate the pavvls and release them from engagement with the lamp base.

8. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular hollow casing adapt ed 'to lit over a lamp base, a locking means concealed Within the casing for engaging the lamp base, a plurality of flange members carried by the locking means adapted to engage with a lamp socket, and an annular member concealed Within the casing provided with means adapted to actuate the locking means.

9. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular, hollow, rotatable casing, a locking member mounted Within the easing, means upon the locking member to secure the locking member to a lamp socket, means Within the casing rotatable by the easing for actuating the locking member.

10. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular, hollow, rotatable easing, a locking member mounted Within the casing, means upon the locking member for securing the same to a lamp socket in a fixed position, means mounted Within the locking member for engaging the base of a lamp, and an annular rotatable lll) member'rotating with the casing adapted to actun'te the locking means mounted in the locking member.

1l. A locking device for incandescent lamps comprising an annular', hollow, rotatable casing adapted to fit over and to rotate arounda. lamp base, an annular locking member mounted Within the casing, means upon the locking member for securingr the same to n lump socket, and means carried Within the casing to actuate the locking means.

12. A locking device lfor incandescent lamps comprising an annular, hollow, rotatable casinga'da )ted to fit over n lamp ibase and to l'ex'f'olv'e tihereupon, a locking member mounted Within the casing, means carried by the locking member for engaging the lamp base, means carried by the locking member `for securing` the device to a lmnp socket, and means mounted Within the easing and rotnt ed thereby to uctuute the locking means` In testimony Whereotl we zlflix our sgnutures. l

CLYDE F. MCCANN. REINHOLD A. BERRENBERG. 

